The First Days (As the World Dies #1)(66)

Katie went to her and Nerit guided her inside.

Laura was still asleep on the sofa, curled up tightly, clutching the tape in her sleep. Bill was lying on the cot, snoring a little.

"You and Travis need to share the guest room. Is that okay?" Nerit asked.

Ralph turned to protest, but was silenced at Nerit's look.

"I don't care. It's not like he's a jerk who'll try to feel me up," Katie said with a wink.

Ralph gave Nerit a look as they passed him and she just waved her hand at him. Katie was bemused by Ralph's old-fashioned sensibilities. But she was tired and wanted to sleep.

They reached the threshold of the guestroom and Travis was already there, lying on his back, eyes closed, on top of the covers. Katie almost laughed at the sight.

Nerit kissed her cheek and whispered, "I'm going to miss you."

Katie smiled back at her. "I'm going to miss you. I hope, one day, I can be as strong as you are."

Nerit looked flattered, but at the same time a little sad. "Just remember to always be true to your heart and do your best. And that will always make you strong."

Katie kissed Nerit's cheek gently and hugged her. "Good advice. I plan to keep it."

Letting go of the older woman's hand, she slipped into the darkened bedroom and lay down on the bed.

"Don't try anything," Travis said sleepily. "I'd hate to punch a woman."

"I can barely contain myself, but I'll keep my hands to myself," Katie assured him with a little laugh.

Travis smiled and opened one eye to look at her. "I've turned gay women before."

"Suuuuuuuuuuuuure."

"Yep, turned their stomachs and sent them screaming," Travis teased groggily.

"That sounds more plausible. I can barely keep from gagging." Katie rolled onto her side and tucked her hand under her cheek, facing him. "But seriously…"

Travis rolled over to face her. "Yeah?"

"Tomorrow…"

"Yeah?"

"If I don't make it-"

"You will make it."

"But if I don't, take care of Jenni and Jason."

Travis sighed. "Okay. But you are going to make it, Katie."

Katie wasn't so sure anymore. Today had drained her, made her feel vulnerable to fate.

Travis reached out and took her free hand. "We both will."

Katie opened her eyes sleepily. "Okay, but don't let go."

"I won't," Travis promised, and held her hand until she slept.





Chapter 14





1. Falling Into The Abyss





Don't let go!" Katie swung over the zombies, her feet kicking as she tried to get back onto the pallet.

Travis' hand, slick with sweat from the heat and his nerves had an iron tight grip on her wrist. "I won't! Grab onto my arm with your other hand!"

Katie's body was jolted as the pallet swung about and she screamed.

The moans and shouts of the zombies below made her tremble with fear.

People in the Fort where shouting and she could hear Jenni screaming her name.

Travis was holding on tight to the heavy chain that held the pallet up.

Bill was holding on for dear life, nearly falling off himself.

The pallet was swinging crazily from the crane.

This is it, Katie thought. This is how it ends for me.

Katie kicked her legs, trying to somehow swim through the air and get a better grip on Travis. Her free hand finally managed to grip his strong, thick wrist. Her fingers barely fit around it. She was gagging on the sheer stench of the dead below and her terror felt as if it was choking her. Travis’ grip on her felt tenuous somehow and he gazed down at her with grim determination.

The pallet that made up their makeshift elevator continued to throw them off balance. It swung in long loops over the heads of the undead, making them shriek all the more as the humans dangled teasingly from it.

How had it come to this?

The drive to the town had been uneventful. Travis had driven the old white truck while Katie had been squeezed in between him and Bill. Laura had sat quietly on Bill's lap, a crocheted purse hanging around her neck.

Nerit had given it to her and had put the VCR tape and remote control into it.

Laura had seemed to find this acceptable and had stared out of the windshield all the way to town as her fingers stroked the purse.

Travis had traveled an alternate route, avoiding the main street into the heart of the town that lead to the fort. They had taken a series of side roads until they came up to the outside of the enormous hotel that's back faced the fort. The improvised wall that kept the zombies corralled had impressed both Travis and Katie. A storage container and sandbags: very ingenious. It was evident that Juan was very clever.

No zombies had made their appearance as they parked the car. On the road they had seen a few, in the distance, usually running from a farmhouse, but none had appeared in the town. The evacuation to the school had been highly successful.

The enormous crane, perched over the fort, had been already in movement, its long arm extending toward them. Travis had slid out of the truck and moved to the bed as Bill and Katie covered him, guns drawn. Bill kept one hand on Laura's shoulder as they got ready to return to the Fort.